followed by more discussion of the fiscal cliff negotiations as congress returns to washington. joined by forbes media chairman steve forbes. later, a discussion on background checks, how they work, and when they are required. our guest is matt bennett. "washington journal," live at 7:00 a.m. eastern on c-span. >> they really started to get worried in the summer and fall of 1774. the british admirals' and generals and diplomats were reporting to the crown that the colonists were sending ships everywhere to give ammunition and muskets and cannon. this was after the british had sent more troops to boston, after the boston tea party and the so-called coercive acts. it is clear the colonists were pulling together ammunition and cannon. maybe they did not intend to use it. that was a big debate. the king -- in 1774 he basically prohibited british ships from taking ammunition and everything to the colony is unless it was officially sanctioned. they were very alert to this. as soon as the colonies found out about the order and council prohibiting ammunitions from being sent to the colo